Midriff-ter MTB...My home from May 1 - Aug 1...pg 15 !

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OddJob said:
Since the beginning, bicycle design has evolved in more ways than possibly any other mode of transportation. From the boneshaker to the high wheeler to the safety bicycle all the way up to today's electric-assist pedal bikes. Depending on who you ask, the 'mountain bike' production design began in the late '70s early '80s. It has had almost as many iterations as the bicycle world itself.

View attachment 229928

I began riding mountain bikes in 1987, and after only 2 weeks of riding, found myself lined up at the start line of my first MTB race. Those were primitive, all 'rigid' bikes (no suspension except your knees and elbows) and yet we were flying around the woods and up and down ski slopes like there was no tomorrow! Now, 36 years later, it is the sport I have done the longest in my life. I gave up the race day craziness after 14 great years of competition, but I still enjoy a trail ride much more than a paved surface!

Two years ago, after crashing my full suspension bike on a desert mountain ride in Arizona (and cracking 3 ribs in the process) I thought it best to maybe lay off the dirt for awhile and I sold my all-mountain conqueror and purchased a new gravel / road bike. It made me feel healthier, and safer, for a while. But when you work at a bike shop, and are around the 'eye candy' of the newest and latest designs and technology; it's hard to 'stay on the diet' (if you catch my 'drift'...:wink1: )

In my latter years my motto changed from 'Ride like there's no tomorrow' to 'Ride like there's always tomorrow'. At 67 I don't recover like I used to at 32, or even 52 for that matter! So, I don't plan on tackling the toughest terrain anymore, just go out and enjoy the outdoors on a bike that I can say I had fun building up myself.

....in typical OddJob style, this is getting really long....

I've never been a small guy. Even in top fitness form, I raced at my college football playing weight of around 195-205 lbs. I'm now around 225, and father time is taking his toll on lack of metabolic rate and regular daily activity. So, my 'midriff' has increased in size, while my agility has decreased. Hence, one aspect of my build name: Midriff-ter. The other part is the style of bike I will be building; what we commonly call a 'mid-fat' mountain bike these days. The tires will be mounted on wide rims, and be somewhere in the 2.6 - 2.8 range in width, or girth, as the case may be. :bigsmile:

Anyway.....it will be based around an aught-teens Rocky Mountain Fusion frame, Rockshox fork, my 27.5 " 35 mm wide wheels from my Klunker Kat build, a bunch of parts laying around the BACK40, and some fun with a rat-ina faux rust paint job.

A few photos to get you an idea of what's in the plan....

View attachment 229926View attachment 229929

View attachment 229925


And always, I look to the automotive world for inspiration, on design, and in this case, rat-ina.

View attachment 229927


RaT oN~!
Click to expand...


RaT oN~!

Screenshot_20230502-174642_Google.jpg
 
OddJob said:
Since the beginning, bicycle design has evolved in more ways than possibly any other mode of transportation. From the boneshaker to the high wheeler to the safety bicycle all the way up to today's electric-assist pedal bikes. Depending on who you ask, the 'mountain bike' production design began in the late '70s early '80s. It has had almost as many iterations as the bicycle world itself.

View attachment 229928

I began riding mountain bikes in 1987, and after only 2 weeks of riding, found myself lined up at the start line of my first MTB race. Those were primitive, all 'rigid' bikes (no suspension except your knees and elbows) and yet we were flying around the woods and up and down ski slopes like there was no tomorrow! Now, 36 years later, it is the sport I have done the longest in my life. I gave up the race day craziness after 14 great years of competition, but I still enjoy a trail ride much more than a paved surface!

Two years ago, after crashing my full suspension bike on a desert mountain ride in Arizona (and cracking 3 ribs in the process) I thought it best to maybe lay off the dirt for awhile and I sold my all-mountain conqueror and purchased a new gravel / road bike. It made me feel healthier, and safer, for a while. But when you work at a bike shop, and are around the 'eye candy' of the newest and latest designs and technology; it's hard to 'stay on the diet' (if you catch my 'drift'...:wink1: )

In my latter years my motto changed from 'Ride like there's no tomorrow' to 'Ride like there's always tomorrow'. At 67 I don't recover like I used to at 32, or even 52 for that matter! So, I don't plan on tackling the toughest terrain anymore, just go out and enjoy the outdoors on a bike that I can say I had fun building up myself.

....in typical OddJob style, this is getting really long....

I've never been a small guy. Even in top fitness form, I raced at my college football playing weight of around 195-205 lbs. I'm now around 225, and father time is taking his toll on lack of metabolic rate and regular daily activity. So, my 'midriff' has increased in size, while my agility has decreased. Hence, one aspect of my build name: Midriff-ter. The other part is the style of bike I will be building; what we commonly call a 'mid-fat' mountain bike these days. The tires will be mounted on wide rims, and be somewhere in the 2.6 - 2.8 range in width, or girth, as the case may be. :bigsmile:

Anyway.....it will be based around an aught-teens Rocky Mountain Fusion frame, Rockshox fork, my 27.5 " 35 mm wide wheels from my Klunker Kat build, a bunch of parts laying around the BACK40, and some fun with a rat-ina faux rust paint job.

A few photos to get you an idea of what's in the plan....

View attachment 229926View attachment 229929

View attachment 229925


And always, I look to the automotive world for inspiration, on design, and in this case, rat-ina.

View attachment 229927


RaT oN~!
Click to expand...
About 7 years ago my brother talked me into doing the Downieville downhill which is 15 miles of downhill bliss, er rockgarden after rockgarden ad naseum. It has 5000' of drop. We rented the latest and greatest carbon full suspension MTB's and proceeded on the ride. I only fell off once, going over the handlebar and landing in a stone lined creek on the only flat rock and didn't even get skinned. Don't ask me. I also raced non suspended bikes and this was my first time on a full suspended MTB. However old MTB bikers catch on quick and soon I was floating over rock gardens that were huge and doing it at high speed. At the end of the day I went home and put my MTB up for sale and vowed not to do something as foolish as that again. I was 63 at the time and the fear of injury had overcome the bliss of major adrenaline rushes. You're midriff is a baby one at best. I loved your history story and wish you the best on this build. It looks like it will get you back on the trail again in good style and your name for the project is perfect. I really loved those 60's Dodge truck stylings, my favorite style of all the pickups.
 
@Tallbikeman , your connection is spot on! I rented my first ever full sus bike in 2015 for a week in AZ of riding and exploring. As soon as I returned home, I bought one. It basically extended my riding another 7 years. I look forward to returning to the dirt once again, albeit to a lesser degree of risk and high reward.
 
SoulGarageOH said:
“Mid-Riff-ter!” Ha! Good one OJ. Nice intro, too. I can’t believe you have a video up on day 1. Well, scratch that; actually I can.
Click to expand...
“Mid-Riff-ter!”------I call that a spare tire, I was checking my spare out yesterday... It deflates from time to time,when I work in a garden or some sort of labor, and then BAM a bar of chocolate later it's back...
 
I will probably use that sand technique this year. Will need to rustify some fenders on brazen.

Really loving your fork selection. Can't wait to see it mocked up on your frame.... 😎

Related to your tree, This is how one of two of my ash trees out front looked in October. Original owners planted it 3 feet from the main water line.
20220924_150258.jpg
Good luck with yours. Mine wasn't over the neighbors property.
 
Okay, so the frame isn't coming soon. But I did mention rat-ifying some of my parts as well.
Started on my Soma stem, which is one of my possibilities for the build.

It was gloss bright white. Sanded it with 320 paper,then went to work with paint layers. Dark and rusty colors first, then dab mustard on with old real sponge, then spray with the matte heirloom white.

Let dry, then hose off the mustard,and the white paint sticking to it. Photos....
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I will add some sand and the darkest Multicolor Texture paint tomorrow.
 
I've been wondering if I should paint this great condition, beautiful Rock Shox fork. Until I just found this while 'googling' this morning......

Midriff-ter fork rat.jpg


Now I'm positive I will do it for SURE!! This is a pro-mountain bikers bike and it's cool to see someone in that realm who has a knack and an appreciation for the 'rat rod bike' genre !

Got some more ideas boiling in the pot for this..... :nerd:
 
And...the ash borer damaged Ash tree removal has begun. Three on the ground and one in the air.

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And now two in the air...

20230505_091042.jpg


And the rain clouds are moving in....

Layed down these protective mats for the hauling out of the tree. About 100' worth.

20230505_092242.jpg


First load out to the street.

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There's a boom on the trailer to grab the bundles / logs and load it. More to come!
 
I was talking to a guy who made traditional lacrosse sticks. They're always ash. He was worried about how a tradition that was handed down from generation to generation from before they recorded history would disappear because this next generation will not have access to the ash anymore
 
Like guitar builders who don't have access to black ebony, sitka spruce, rosewood, and a host of protected equatorial tree species.

Update: talking to the arborist who did the climbing this morning, this was a Green Ash tree. Those commonly used for hockey and lacrosse sticks are Black and White Ash.
 
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